BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
THE PREDA team of dedicated professional staff brought new life to thousands of children helping them heal and overcome adversity. Together, led by its president, Francis Bermido Jr., they are advocating and proposing a new law to establish a special court for abused children with trained judges that will deliver freedom, justice and closure for child victims. They are asking for public support for this initiative.
The law will mandate unhampered speedy trials through continuous hearings as recommended by the Supreme Court at present and each to be completed in two to three months. Strict rules for prosecutors, police and judges will see it is implemented to deliver justice.
The new law will mandate the establishment of many more therapeutic homes with trained staff including therapists and paralegal officers. The homes will be continually supported and funded by local governments.
All of us need to know and experience an awakening, a spiritual resurrection to the truth about the widespread sexual abuse crimes against children that are untreated and left without help or therapy.
The Unicef reports that seven million Filipino children are abused every year and get no help. One child in every three are victims of sexual abuse. Many people are aware of child abuse and many suffer in silence. They should help other victims and become advocates of child rights. That will be healing for them, too.
The clergy is wrong for defending the abuser and silencing the victim. That abuser will abuse many more children in his lifetime for sure. They ignore the words of Jesus who said about child abusers that a large millstone should be tied around their necks and they be thrown into the deep sea (Matthew 18:1-7). They that deny, cover up child abuse and leave abusers to continue in a diocese (there are several in the Philippines) are in violation of the law of God and man. A single act of sexual intercourse against a child under 16 is statutory rape.
Bishops have misplaced fear of the imagined shame and disgrace clerical child abuse brings on them, on the priesthood, on their dioceses and on the church and the loss of donations. It is kept secret and the priest sent to hide in another parish or sent abroad. That is totally misplaced.
They ought to be ashamed that they covered up for an abuser and failed to protect the child-victims. They need to have true faith, believe that acting justly will undo evil. That protecting children and bringing the cleric to justice is praise-worthy and to their everlasting merit. They will be admired for following the instructions of good Pope Francis that there must be zero tolerance for clerical child abuse in the church.
Doing the good, speaking the truth and seeking justice for the victims is having Faith as Jesus of Nazareth said and did. When the disciples failed to help the children get a blessing, Jesus was angry at them.
âAllow the children to come to me and donât stop them. The Kingdom of heaven is for the likes of these childrenâ (Mark 10:13 -16). The rights and dignity of children are the top priority of Jesus. âWhen you accept one child you accept me.â (Matthew18:1-6)
Child abuse is a grievous sin that even Jesus said it is hard to forgive. There must be accountability, penance and punishment, he said.
So many adults have been sexually abused as children by family members and they cannot emotionally face that painful historical truth. They must get help for other child-victims.
Municipal social workers and NGOs like Preda Foundation are there to help. People can just message to the Preda Foundation Facebook page in total confidentiality to report abuse.
There is no greater good one can do than to help a child. Help one today and every day. Call or text Preda +63 917 532 4453 and save a child. (preda.org)/PN
